Your Social Security Timing Report Prepared for: Mr. & Sample Prepared by: Leverage Your Social Security On: Friday, November 6, 2015 1
Assumptions High Wage Earner Spouse Name Mr. Date of Birth 1/5/1950 6/5/1953 Gender M F Assumed Inflation 2.80 % Real Rate of Return 0.00 % Full Retirement Age 66 years 66 years Income Need $8,000 Survivor Need $6,000 Estimated Monthly Benefits Age 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 Mr. $1,853 $2,064 $2,236 $2,408 $2,580 $2,865 $3,163 $3,476 $3,803 $1,250 $1,326 $1,476 $1,634 $1,800 $1,999 $2,207 $2,425 $2,654 Why are the estimated benefits different from my Social Security Statement? Your Social Security Statement makes certain assumptions that differ from the assumptions we make in preparing your analysis. First, Social Security assumes that the average wages will not increase in the future. Average wage statistics are used to index your past earnings to equal today s dollars, and to adjust formulas in the benefit calculation. We assume that the average wage will increase at the same pace as inflation, and we adjust your earnings as well as the formulas for future election years based on this assumption. Second, your Social Security Statement does not include cost of living adjustments. Historically, cost of living adjustments have occurred regularly and a recent Social Security Trustees report (http://www.ssa.gov/oact/tr /2015/) assumes long term Cost of Living Adjustments to be between 1.8% and 3.8% per year with the most likely average being 2.7% per year. The benefit amounts above include Cost of Living adjustments based on the 2.80 % inflation assumption per year that you entered. The raw dollar amount of your future benefit is of interest to most of our clients and as a result, we present that information above and through this report when potential benefit amounts are referenced. As a result, the monthly benefit amounts above and through the remainder of this report represent your benefits in future dollars. We have taken substantial care to utilize the lifetime values of different benefit elections in today s dollars, using a real rate of return of 0.00 %. Lifetime benefit values throughout this report represent the present value of benefits based on the estimated cashflows on the respective strategy cashflow tables. Cashflow tables are annual cashflows. "Strategy" in this report is used to denote a set of Social Security claiming ages and techniques, not an investment strategy. 2
Strategy Comparison The expected lifetime family benefit using the suggested strategy is: $1,313,673 The expected lifetime family benefit for the first alternate available combination is: $1,285,468 The expected lifetime family benefit for the earliest available combination is: $1,144,982 Graph represents present value of Lifetime Family Benefits. The preceding chart and comparisons assume that Mr. dies at age 85 years and dies at age 90 years. Graph illustrates which of the outlined strategies provides the best outcome at any given set of whole year death age combinations. Break Even points occur at combinations where the strategy offering the best outcome changes. The Suggested strategy was determined by assuming Mr. dies at 85 years and dies at 90 years. 3
Your Suggested Social Security Strategy Mr. File a standard application for benefits at your age 70 years. This will allow to collect a spousal benefit under your earnings record. Your approximate monthly benefit would be $3,803 File a Restricted application for only your spousal benefit based on Mr. s earnings record at your age 66 years 7 months. This allows you to continue to earn delayed retirement credits on your own benefit. Your approximate spousal benefit would be $1,440 File for your own benefit at age 70 years. Your approximate benefit on your own earnings record would be $2,654 The expected lifetime family benefit using this strategy is: $1,313,673 Using the Suggested Election Ages The preceding charts demonstrate future value cashflows using the assumptions outlined on the assumptions page of this report, and do not include taxes or any other source of income. The desired income line is generated based on user input and inflated for future value using the same inflation assumptions. 4
Estimated Cashflows for your Suggested Social Security Strategy Mr. Combined Benefit Breakdown Net Present Value Retirement Spousal Widow $612,948 $0 $0 Combined Benefit Breakdown Net Present Value Retirement Spousal Widow $303,993 $52,878 $343,854 Expected Cashflow Future Values Mr. Summary Year Age Retirement Spousal Widow Age Retirement Spousal Widow Total Need Gap 2012 62 $0 $0 $0 59 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2013 63 $0 $0 $0 60 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2014 64 $0 $0 $0 61 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2015 65 $0 $0 $0 62 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2016 66 $0 $0 $0 63 $0 $0 $0 $0 $98,688 ($98,688) 2017 67 $0 $0 $0 64 $0 $0 $0 $0 $101,451 ($101,451) 2018 68 $0 $0 $0 65 $0 $0 $0 $0 $104,291 ($104,291) 2019 69 $0 $0 $0 66 $0 $0 $0 $0 $107,212 ($107,212) 2020 70 $45,636 $0 $0 67 $0 $17,280 $0 $62,916 $110,214 ($47,298) 2021 71 $46,920 $0 $0 68 $0 $17,772 $0 $64,692 $113,300 ($48,608) 2022 72 $48,228 $0 $0 69 $0 $18,264 $0 $66,492 $116,472 ($49,980) 2023 73 $49,584 $0 $0 70 $18,578 $7,825 $0 $75,987 $119,733 ($43,746) 2024 74 $50,964 $0 $0 71 $32,736 $0 $0 $83,700 $123,086 ($39,386) 2025 75 $52,392 $0 $0 72 $33,648 $0 $0 $86,040 $126,532 ($40,492) 2026 76 $53,856 $0 $0 73 $34,596 $0 $0 $88,452 $130,075 ($41,623) 2027 77 $55,368 $0 $0 74 $35,556 $0 $0 $90,924 $133,717 ($42,793) 2028 78 $56,916 $0 $0 75 $36,552 $0 $0 $93,468 $137,461 ($43,993) 2029 79 $58,512 $0 $0 76 $37,584 $0 $0 $96,096 $141,310 ($45,214) 2030 80 $60,144 $0 $0 77 $38,628 $0 $0 $98,772 $145,267 ($46,495) 2031 81 $61,836 $0 $0 78 $39,708 $0 $0 $101,544 $149,334 ($47,790) 2032 82 $63,564 $0 $0 79 $40,824 $0 $0 $104,388 $153,516 ($49,128) 2033 83 $65,340 $0 $0 80 $41,964 $0 $0 $107,304 $157,814 ($50,510) 2034 84 $67,176 $0 $0 81 $43,140 $0 $0 $110,316 $162,233 ($51,917) 2035 85 $0 $0 $0 82 $0 $0 $69,048 $69,048 $125,081 ($56,033) 2036 86 $0 $0 $0 83 $0 $0 $70,980 $70,980 $128,584 ($57,604) 2037 87 $0 $0 $0 84 $0 $0 $72,960 $72,960 $132,184 ($59,224) 2038 88 $0 $0 $0 85 $0 $0 $75,000 $75,000 $135,885 ($60,885) 2039 89 $0 $0 $0 86 $0 $0 $77,100 $77,100 $139,690 ($62,590) 2040 90 $0 $0 $0 87 $0 $0 $79,260 $79,260 $143,601 ($64,341) 2041 91 $0 $0 $0 88 $0 $0 $81,480 $81,480 $147,622 ($66,142) 2042 92 $0 $0 $0 89 $0 $0 $83,760 $83,760 $151,756 ($67,996) 2043 93 $0 $0 $0 90 $0 $0 $35,880 $35,880 $156,005 ($120,125) $836,436 $0 $0 $433,514 $61,141 $645,468 $1,976,559 $4,076,114 ($2,099,555) 5
Your First Alternate Social Security Strategy Mr. File a Restricted application for only your spousal benefit based on 's earnings record at your age 67 years 5 months. This allows you to continue to earn delayed retirement credits on your own benefit. Your approximate spousal benefit would be $852 File for your own benefit at age 70 years. Your approximate benefit on your own earnings record would be $3,803. File a standard application for benefits at age 64 years. Your approximate monthly benefit would be $1,476. The expected lifetime family benefit using this strategy is: $1,285,468 Using the First Alternate Election Ages The preceding charts demonstrate future value cashflows using the assumptions outlined on the assumptions page of this report, and do not include taxes or any other source of income. The desired income line is generated based on user input and inflated for future value using the same inflation assumptions. 6
Estimated Cashflows for your First Alternate Social Security Strategy Mr. Combined Benefit Breakdown Net Present Value Retirement Spousal Widow $612,948 $25,679 $0 Combined Benefit Breakdown Net Present Value Retirement Spousal Widow $302,987 $0 $343,854 Expected Cashflow Future Values Mr. Summary Year Age Retirement Spousal Widow Age Retirement Spousal Widow Total Need Gap 2012 62 $0 $0 $0 59 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2013 63 $0 $0 $0 60 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2014 64 $0 $0 $0 61 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2015 65 $0 $0 $0 62 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2016 66 $0 $0 $0 63 $0 $0 $0 $0 $98,688 ($98,688) 2017 67 $0 $5,964 $0 64 $10,332 $0 $0 $16,296 $101,451 ($85,155) 2018 68 $0 $10,500 $0 65 $18,216 $0 $0 $28,716 $104,291 ($75,575) 2019 69 $0 $10,800 $0 66 $18,720 $0 $0 $29,520 $107,212 ($77,692) 2020 70 $45,636 $0 $0 67 $19,248 $0 $0 $64,884 $110,214 ($45,330) 2021 71 $46,920 $0 $0 68 $19,788 $0 $0 $66,708 $113,300 ($46,592) 2022 72 $48,228 $0 $0 69 $20,340 $0 $0 $68,568 $116,472 ($47,904) 2023 73 $49,584 $0 $0 70 $20,904 $0 $0 $70,488 $119,733 ($49,245) 2024 74 $50,964 $0 $0 71 $21,492 $0 $0 $72,456 $123,086 ($50,630) 2025 75 $52,392 $0 $0 72 $22,092 $0 $0 $74,484 $126,532 ($52,048) 2026 76 $53,856 $0 $0 73 $22,716 $0 $0 $76,572 $130,075 ($53,503) 2027 77 $55,368 $0 $0 74 $23,352 $0 $0 $78,720 $133,717 ($54,997) 2028 78 $56,916 $0 $0 75 $24,000 $0 $0 $80,916 $137,461 ($56,545) 2029 79 $58,512 $0 $0 76 $24,672 $0 $0 $83,184 $141,310 ($58,126) 2030 80 $60,144 $0 $0 77 $25,356 $0 $0 $85,500 $145,267 ($59,767) 2031 81 $61,836 $0 $0 78 $26,076 $0 $0 $87,912 $149,334 ($61,422) 2032 82 $63,564 $0 $0 79 $26,796 $0 $0 $90,360 $153,516 ($63,156) 2033 83 $65,340 $0 $0 80 $27,552 $0 $0 $92,892 $157,814 ($64,922) 2034 84 $67,176 $0 $0 81 $28,320 $0 $0 $95,496 $162,233 ($66,737) 2035 85 $0 $0 $0 82 $0 $0 $69,048 $69,048 $125,081 ($56,033) 2036 86 $0 $0 $0 83 $0 $0 $70,980 $70,980 $128,584 ($57,604) 2037 87 $0 $0 $0 84 $0 $0 $72,960 $72,960 $132,184 ($59,224) 2038 88 $0 $0 $0 85 $0 $0 $75,000 $75,000 $135,885 ($60,885) 2039 89 $0 $0 $0 86 $0 $0 $77,100 $77,100 $139,690 ($62,590) 2040 90 $0 $0 $0 87 $0 $0 $79,260 $79,260 $143,601 ($64,341) 2041 91 $0 $0 $0 88 $0 $0 $81,480 $81,480 $147,622 ($66,142) 2042 92 $0 $0 $0 89 $0 $0 $83,760 $83,760 $151,756 ($67,996) 2043 93 $0 $0 $0 90 $0 $0 $35,880 $35,880 $156,005 ($120,125) $836,436 $27,264 $0 $399,972 $0 $645,468 $1,909,140 $4,076,114 ($2,166,974) 7
Your Earliest Possible Social Security Strategy Mr. File a standard application for benefits at your age 66 years. Your approximate benefit would be $2,580 File a standard application for benefits at your age 63 years 1 months. Your approximate benefit would be $1,335 The expected lifetime family benefit using this strategy is: $1,144,982 Using the Earliest Possible Election Ages The preceding charts demonstrate future value cashflows using the assumptions outlined on the assumptions page of this report, and do not include taxes or any other source of income. The desired income line is generated based on user input and inflated for future value using the same inflation assumptions. 8
Estimated Cashflows for your Earliest Possible Social Security Strategy Mr. Combined Benefit Breakdown Net Present Value Retirement Spousal Widow $588,205 $0 $0 Combined Benefit Breakdown Net Present Value Retirement Spousal Widow $296,283 $0 $260,494 Expected Cashflow Future Values Mr. Summary Year Age Retirement Spousal Widow Age Retirement Spousal Widow Total Need Gap 2012 62 $0 $0 $0 59 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2013 63 $0 $0 $0 60 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2014 64 $0 $0 $0 61 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2015 65 $0 $0 $0 62 $0 $0 $0 $0 $96,000 ($96,000) 2016 66 $30,960 $0 $0 63 $8,010 $0 $0 $38,970 $98,688 ($59,718) 2017 67 $31,824 $0 $0 64 $16,464 $0 $0 $48,288 $101,451 ($53,163) 2018 68 $32,724 $0 $0 65 $16,932 $0 $0 $49,656 $104,291 ($54,635) 2019 69 $33,636 $0 $0 66 $17,400 $0 $0 $51,036 $107,212 ($56,176) 2020 70 $34,572 $0 $0 67 $17,892 $0 $0 $52,464 $110,214 ($57,750) 2021 71 $35,544 $0 $0 68 $18,384 $0 $0 $53,928 $113,300 ($59,372) 2022 72 $36,540 $0 $0 69 $18,900 $0 $0 $55,440 $116,472 ($61,032) 2023 73 $37,560 $0 $0 70 $19,428 $0 $0 $56,988 $119,733 ($62,745) 2024 74 $38,616 $0 $0 71 $19,980 $0 $0 $58,596 $123,086 ($64,490) 2025 75 $39,696 $0 $0 72 $20,532 $0 $0 $60,228 $126,532 ($66,304) 2026 76 $40,800 $0 $0 73 $21,108 $0 $0 $61,908 $130,075 ($68,167) 2027 77 $41,940 $0 $0 74 $21,696 $0 $0 $63,636 $133,717 ($70,081) 2028 78 $43,116 $0 $0 75 $22,308 $0 $0 $65,424 $137,461 ($72,037) 2029 79 $44,328 $0 $0 76 $22,932 $0 $0 $67,260 $141,310 ($74,050) 2030 80 $45,564 $0 $0 77 $23,568 $0 $0 $69,132 $145,267 ($76,135) 2031 81 $46,848 $0 $0 78 $24,228 $0 $0 $71,076 $149,334 ($78,258) 2032 82 $48,156 $0 $0 79 $24,912 $0 $0 $73,068 $153,516 ($80,448) 2033 83 $49,500 $0 $0 80 $25,608 $0 $0 $75,108 $157,814 ($82,706) 2034 84 $50,892 $0 $0 81 $26,328 $0 $0 $77,220 $162,233 ($85,013) 2035 85 $0 $0 $0 82 $0 $0 $52,308 $52,308 $125,081 ($72,773) 2036 86 $0 $0 $0 83 $0 $0 $53,772 $53,772 $128,584 ($74,812) 2037 87 $0 $0 $0 84 $0 $0 $55,272 $55,272 $132,184 ($76,912) 2038 88 $0 $0 $0 85 $0 $0 $56,820 $56,820 $135,885 ($79,065) 2039 89 $0 $0 $0 86 $0 $0 $58,404 $58,404 $139,690 ($81,286) 2040 90 $0 $0 $0 87 $0 $0 $60,048 $60,048 $143,601 ($83,553) 2041 91 $0 $0 $0 88 $0 $0 $61,728 $61,728 $147,622 ($85,894) 2042 92 $0 $0 $0 89 $0 $0 $63,456 $63,456 $151,756 ($88,300) 2043 93 $0 $0 $0 90 $0 $0 $27,180 $27,180 $156,005 ($128,825) $762,816 $0 $0 $386,610 $0 $488,988 $1,638,414 $4,076,114 ($2,437,700) 9
Concepts for Married Couples Social Security offers three distinct types of benefits for retired workers and/or their spouses: a Retirement benefit, which is based on his or her own earnings record; an Auxiliary Benefit, which provides a worker s spouse or children with a benefit once the worker has claimed his own benefit; and a Survivor Benefit, which provides a surviving spouse or certain other dependents with a benefit after a worker s death. After the passage of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA), some previously available claiming strategies were modified or eliminated. This report incorporates those rules and evaluates the remaining available claiming strategies for your consideration. In general, strong claiming strategies for couples will work to intentionally maximize each of the three types of benefits. Retired Worker Benefit Retirement benefits may be available as early as age 62. Your benefit amount is calculated based on a formula that incorporates your highest 35 years of earnings. If you claim benefits at Full Retirement Age, which varies from 66 to 67 based on your year of birth, you will receive your full benefit, which is known as your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). If you claim early, you will receive a reduced benefit and if you delay, your benefit will be increased by 8% per year (pro-rated by months) of delay up to age 70. Auxiliary Benefit The most common Auxiliary benefit for a married couple is the Spousal Benefit. Spousal benefits are generally available to the spouse of a worker who has been married to the worker for at least one year. The worker must either be receiving a Retirement Benefit or have suspended a Retirement Benefit on or before April 29 th, 2016. The amount of the Spousal benefit is 50% of the worker s Primary Insurance Amount if claimed at Full Retirement Age. Spousal benefits are reduced if claimed prior to Full Retirement Age, but do not increase if delayed past Full Retirement Age. When an individual is simultaneously entitled to both a Spousal benefit and a Retirement benefit, the Spousal benefit is reduced by the greater of the Retirement benefit or if a reduced Retirement Benefit is taken, the PIA. Survivor Benefit The Survivor benefit is unique in that it is based both on when the deceased filed for benefits and when the Surviving spouse claims benefits. For example, if a higher wage earning spouse elects early, then dies, his spouse will be faced with a permanently reduced Survivor benefit, regardless of when she claims. If the higher wage earner delays claiming Retirement benefits, the available Survivor benefit is also increased. Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits Prior to the BBA, any program participant who had reached Full Retirement Age and was eligible for both his own Retirement benefit and a Spousal benefit could restrict the application to only Spousal benefits. By restricting the application to only Spousal benefits, entitlement to Retirement benefits was avoided. After claiming an unreduced Spousal benefit only for a period of time, the participant could switch to the Retirement benefit, which had been growing by 8% per year. After the BBA, this option is available only to people born on or before January 1 st, 1954. 10
The Retirement Earnings Test How does work affect Social Security? You are able to work and receive Social Security retirement, spousal, or survivor's benefits. However, you may be subject to a reduction in benefits if you haven't attained full retirement age. The Social Security Administration will withhold benefits during the year in which you work assuming that you provide an estimate to the Social Security office about your expected earnings. If you do not report estimated earnings, the SSA will withhold your monthly payments in the following year until all benefits that should have been withheld are paid in full. How much of my benefit will be withheld? In 2016, you are allowed to earn up to $15,720 before benefits are withheld. For every $2 you earn above the exempt amount, $1 dollar will be withheld. This applies to all years leading up to the year in which you attain your full retirement age. During the year you attain full retirement age the exempt amount increases to $41,880 and for every $3 you earn over the exempt amount $1 will be withheld. Even though your benefits are withheld they are not completely lost. Once you reach full retirement age, your benefits will be increased to account for the number of months that you did not receive a benefit. For example, if your full retirement age is 66 and you filed for benefits at 62 you received a reduction in benefits for taking benefits 48 months early. If 12 payments are withheld due to the earnings test, your benefits will be adjusted at your full retirement age and it will be as if you elected at age 63, or 36 months early. What is considered income? If you are employed by someone else only wages are considered earned income for the purpose of the annual earnings test. For people who are self-employed only net earnings count. It is important to note that employee contributions to pension or retirement plans are included in gross wages. Income that is not counted as earnings include: Government benefits, Investment earnings, Interest, Pensions, Annuities; and Capital gains Special Rule For people who file for benefits mid-year and have already earned more than the exempt amount, the monthly earnings test is used. For any month during that first year that you earn under the monthly exempt amount, which is simply 1/12th of the annual exempt amount, you will receive your full benefit for that month, regardless of your earnings before you filed for benefits. 11
Assumptions COLA - 2.80% Real Rate of Return - 0.00% Income Need - $8,000 What is the name and gender? Mr. M F What is the date of birth? 1/5/1950 6/5/1953 What life expectancy should we plan for? How were benefits estimated? 85 years Estimated benefit of $2,500 at age 66 years from a statement on 1/1/2013 90 years 1970 $6,100 1971 $6,400 1972 $7,130 1973 $7,580 1974 $8,030 1975 $8,630 1976 $9,220 1977 $9,700 1978 $10,500 1979 $11,400 1980 $12,000 1981 $13,000 1982 $14,000 1983 $15,000 1984 $16,000 1985 $16,000 1986 $17,000 1987 $18,000 1988 $19,000 1989 $20,000 1990 $21,000 1991 $21,000 1992 $21,000 1993 $22,000 1994 $23,000 1995 $24,000 1996 $25,000 1997 $27,000 1998 $28,000 1999 $30,000 2000 $32,000 2001 $32,000 2002 $33,000 2003 $34,000 2004 $35,000 2005 $36,000 2006 $38,000 2007 $40,000 2008 $41,000 Survivor Need - $6,000 Using the Earnings Record reported by Social Security 12
Disclosures This report is intended as a diagnostic tool to suggest potential election options that may be beneficial. The election options considered may not be exhaustive. While substantial effort has been taken to ensure the accuracy of all calculations, we provide no guarantees. Further, this report can not anticipate future changes to the Social Security System, formulae, or claiming rules. This report specifically excludes the following situations: 1. This report does not account for disability years. If you have years in which you received Social Security Disability benefits, the result will be inaccurate. 2. This report may incorporate Social Security s Annual Earnings Test. It does not incorporate the Monthly Earnings Test. 3. This report does not incorporate children s benefits, dependent parent s benefits, or the family maximum calculation. 4. This report assumes that the surviving spouse will begin receiving the higher of his or her own benefit, or the deceased spouse s benefit at the time of the first death. Further, the calculation does not assume election of widow s benefits prior to age 70. As a result, if the date of death for either spouse is prior to the survivor s age 70, the results will be inaccurate. 5. This report does not treat Railroad or Military earnings separately. Workers who have 10+ years of Railroad earnings, or certain military service may experience inaccurate results. 6. We assume Fully Insured status. If you have not reached fully insured status for retirement benefits, the results will be inaccurate. Election options also must be coordinated with your other retirement planning. The contents of this report when judged in the context of your overall financial plan may not be optimal for your circumstances, as it may cause unacceptable trade-offs with your other investment assets. Please seek the advice of your own tax, financial, and legal advisors before implementing any strategies contained in this report. In this report, life expectancy assumptions may be manually entered, or based on Social Security mortality tables, available at www.ssa.gov/oact/stats/table4c6.html. Report contents and calculations provided by Social Security Timing. 13